Flowering plum tree

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a novel variety of Cistena Plum tree, distinguished by its more vigorous growth rate and larger foliage.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of floweringplum tree of the species botanically known as Prunus cistena andcommonly called "Cistena Plum."

I discovered my new variety, believed to be the result of a bud sport,among a group of nursery plants of the Cistena Plum variety, which werebeing grown from cuttings in the cultivated area of a nursery in Boring,Oreg. Among this group, which comprised several thousand two-year-oldCistena Plum plants, I noticed my new tree because it was approximatelyeighteen inches taller than other plants in the group.

Close observation of the parent tree, and asexual reproduction of theparent tree under my direction to produce progeny thereof, continuedobservations of such progeny, which possessed identical characteristicsso far as observable, and which were subsequently asexually propagatedunder my direction and control, has convinced me that my new treerepresents a new and improved variety of Cistena Plum tree. Furthermore,these observations have confirmed that my new variety is particularlyevidenced by the following unique combination of characteristics, whichhave proven firmly fixed, are outstanding therein, and which distinguishit from all other varieties of this species of which I am aware:

1. A rapid, vigorous rate of growth; and

2. Extremely large foliage.

In determining the above characteristics, I have compared my new treewith common Cistena Plum trees which were growing under the sameconditions in a nursery plot located near Canby, Oreg.

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the foliage of my newvariety as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in acolor illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of a portion of a tree of the presentinvention taken during the spring of 1980.

The primary distinguishing feature of my new tree, over other trees ofthis species, is its much more vigorous rate of growth. In the past,common Cistena Plum trees have typically been used as shrubs, because oftheir relatively slow growth rate. However, because of its rapid growthrate, my new variety is more usable as a tree.

Continued visual observations of my new variety of Cistena Plum tree andcommon Cistena Plum trees, over a number of years, has confirmed thedistinctiveness of the growth rate of my new variety. In addition tosuch visual observations, during the 1980 growing season, spring andsummer, measurements were made of the growth of trees of my new varietyof Cistena Plum tree and of the growth of common Cistena Plum trees ofthe same age. These measurements were made of trees of my new varietyand of the common variety which were growing in the same row in anursery. All of these trees were budded about two years earlier onMyrobalam Prunus (Prunus myrobalana, otherwise known as Prunuscerasifera) understock.

More specifically, in mid-November of 1980, the caliper of twelve treesof the common variety were measured at a point approximately threeinches above the location of budding to the understock. The averagecaliper of these trees was approximately 1.3 centimeters. Similarmeasurements were made of the caliper of twenty-five trees of my newCistena Plum variety, growing in the same row. The average caliper ofthese trees of my new variety was 2.0 centimeters.

In addition, measurements were made on June 4, July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept.4, 1980. Measurements were made of the length of side branches of my newvariety of Cistena Plum tree and of the length of side branches ofcommon Cistena Plum trees. On each date, fifty branches from trees of mynew variety were measured. Also, on each date, fifty branches from treesof the common variety were measured. These branches were located atapproximately the same position on the trees. Again, the trees werelocated in the same row of a nursery. The following table summarizes theaverage of these measurements.

    ______________________________________                                        AVERAGE LENGTH OF SIDE BRANCHES                                                                          COMMON                                                       NEW CISTENA PLUM CISTENA PLUM                                       DATE      TREE             TREE                                               ______________________________________                                        June 4, 1980                                                                            60.9 cm          27.2 cm                                            July 7, 1980                                                                            69.8 cm          31.7 cm                                            August 4, 1980                                                                          83.3 cm          43.3 cm                                            Sept. 4, 1980                                                                           80.1 cm          43.4 cm                                            ______________________________________                                    

Thus, although only a limited number of samples were taken, themeasurements confirm my observations thay my new Cistena Plum tree is amuch faster growing tree than common Cistena Plum trees.

Also, the foliage of my new tree is larger than the foliage of commonCistena Plum trees. In addition to my visual observations, during the1980 growing season, measurements and comparisons were made of the sizeof foliage of my new tree with the size of foliage of common CistenaPlum trees growing in the same row of a nursery. Although there was somevariation from leaf to leaf, typical leaves of my new Cistena Plum treeaveraged 92 millimeters long and 43 millimeters wide. In contrast,leaves of the common Cistena Plum trees had typical average lengths of80 millimeters long and 35 millimeters wide. This larger foliage of mytree enhances its suitability for ornamental and decorative purposes.

Otherwise, insofar as I have been able to observe at this time, my newvariety is believed generally typical of the species.

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of Prunuscistena tree, with color terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (hereinafter R.H.S.), published byThe Royal Horticultural Society of London. It is pointed out, however,that the size and shape of leaves varies depending upon the nature ofthe growing season.

Parentage: A bud sport of Prunus cistena.

Propagation: Holds to distinguishing characteristics through succeedingpropagation by budding on Myrobalam Plum understock.

Locality where grown and observed: Boring, Oreg. and Canby, Oreg.

Tree: Upright, rapid growing.

Foliage:

Shape.--Generally elliptic.

Apex.--Accuminate.

Base.--Cuneate.

Margin.--Serrulate.

Size.--Typically 92 mm long and 43 mm broad.

Color.--Typical of the species, in the fall being like R.H.S. plates187A through 187B.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of flowering plum treesubstantially herein shown and described, characterized particularly asto novelty by its vigorous rate of growth and large foliage.